The South Sudan Medical Journal exists to inform, educate and positively influence the development of Health Services in South Sudan.
The Journal is published quarterly in February, May, August and November.
Vision
To see well-trained, skilled professionals delivering high quality healthcare to the population of the South Sudan and beyond
Mission
To publish research and clinical guidance that will positively influence the development of healthcare services in South Sudan and beyond.
Scope
SSMJ publishes all types of articles: original research, reviews, survey reports/KAP studies, discussions and commentaries as well as case studies, clinical guidance and letters to the editor, in all fields of medicine and public health.
The SSMJ is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
eISSN 2309-4613
SSMJ is listed on the African Journals Online (AJOL) and Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ). Visit these sites to learn more.
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Latest Issue:
Vol 19. No 1. February 2026
EDITORIAL
The path forward for cervical cancer in South Sudan
Florence Gune, PhD (c), MPA, MPH
GUEST EDITOR
Co-Founder and Executive Director
Cancer Education Project Inc.
January was Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, a critical moment to reflect on the state of cervical cancer prevention and care. In South Sudan, awareness of the disease is slowly growing, but it remains uneven and largely concentrated in urban areas, leaving many women and girls beyond the reach of lifesaving information and services.
Virtually all cervical cancer cases (over 99%) are linked to infection with high-risk types of human papillomavirus (HPV). The most important thing to know is that cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers. It develops slowly over many years, providing a crucial window of opportunity to detect and treat pre-cancerous changes before they turn into cancer.
Significant gaps continue to undermine progress. HPV vaccination has not yet been integrated into the country’s routine immunization schedule. Screening options such as visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) and Pap smears are limited in availability and largely confined to a small number of health facilities. Compounding these challenges is South Sudan’s inadequate pathology and oncology capacity, which results in many women being diagnosed at advanced stages of the disease, when treatment is more complex, expensive, and often out of reach.
Statement on the Position of the Association of Gynecologists and Obstetricians of South Sudan (AGOSS) on the Use of Paracetamol During Pregnancy and Its Linkage with Neurodevelopmental Disorders Among Children
September 2025
Paracetamol, known as acetaminophen is an over-the-counter (OTC) pain reliever and fever-reducing medication. The drug is chemically named as N-acetyl-p-aminophenol, with its international brand name” Panadol”. It is classified as an analgesic (pain reliever) and also as antipyretic (fever reducer). It is produced in different formulations; these include tablets, capsules, liquid suspensions, suppositories and intravenous (IV).
AGOSS understands that pregnant women in South Sudan may require safe, easily accessible, and effective medications to alleviate fever, pain, or discomfort during pregnancy.
Based on the best available data, paracetamol (acetaminophen) is still one of the safest options for managing mild to moderate pain and decreasing fever during pregnancy, when used at approved therapeutic levels.
There is presently no conclusive scientific evidence that paracetamol, when used as intended, causes neurodevelopmental abnormalities (such as autism or ADHD) in children or congenital deformities in infants. There are limits to observational studies that show probable connections, such as potential confounding factors. AGOSS also acknowledged many statements on the use of acetaminophen released by well-known worldwide regulators and professional obstetrics associations.